ESPN X Games: MX Big Air

August 18, 2003

After witnessing the carnage that took place Sunday during the Big Air competition, there’s no doubt the sport has reached a new dimension. Personally, I don’t know if it’s good or bad for the sport. I heard people say it’s at a level now that is too dangerous and unsafe. I guess it depends who you ask.

The upside of the night were Brian Deegan and Nate Adams. Once again these guys went big and impressed the world. Deegan stomped the 360 or the “Mulisha Twist” on his first try. However, after witnessing another angle, it definitely looks as though Deegan’s trick was an off-axis backflip, not the 360 that he pulled at Moto X.

During Big Air the riders had three jumps. Deegan crashed on his second attempt but walked away and opted for an old school whip on his last run. With his first turn score, it was still enough to nail the gold medal.

Nate Adams pulled a heel clicker backflip aka “click flip” on his first try off the 75′ ramp and followed it up with a click flip to no-hander lander.

The crowd booed after the score was called as some thought he should have beaten Deegan. It was truly unbelievable. The kid has the backflip so dialed and he is such a smooth rider. Nate took home the silver for the second night in a row.

The downside of the day was the injuries and crashes that sidelined multiple riders. During practice, Carey Hart attempted a backflip on the 45′ ramp and over-rotated. He re-injured the same foot that just came out of a cast. So, once again Hart left the X Games on crutches.

Ronnie Faisst also attempted the back flip during practice on the 75′ ramp and under-rotated. He threw his bike away and we hear he broke a couple ribs.

During the main competition, Mike Jones made his first appearance at the X Games and went out on a stretcher. He attempted what he called a “barrel roll” and did not commit. He was halfway through the trick when he gave up and bailed his bike. Jones later walked himself back to the competition and watched from the sidelines.

Later in the comp, Beau Bamburg attempted a backflip sterilizer. Yes, a sterilizer where his legs come through the bars for the landing. Mid-trick his legs got caught up on his bike and he hit the ground HARD! He was knocked out for some time but when he came to, he threw the horns to the crowd and walked off with help from the medics.